Post by speedway_history on Apr 24, 2013 12:01:41 GMT 1
Interview with Ivan Blacka - 24.04.13.
1..Who or what inspired you to take up speedway?
My father was born in Yorkshire and used to attend Speedway before the war. He was a big Vic Duggan fan because of his leg trailing. I never did any kind of dirt bike riding or racing at an early age, then when I was around 20 my dad bought me a Jawa and took me to some waste ground near our home in Philly, and I started to have a go on some real bumpy fields. When I first started I did go through some front forks with all the crashes I had. Back then you could take the forks off and bang them against a telephone pole to straighten them up. So that was the beginning of a long journey into the wonderful world of Speedway.
2..You were born in England, but spent most of your life in America. What nationality did you ride as, and did you get to make the choice?
Being born in Southampton I was able to race National League when I started. I also raced for Wolves at that time. I really was not bothered about what nationality I raced under just as long as I could race. Put it this way if there was a meeting available for the USA I would have jumped at the chance to race and vice versa. I sort of double dipped with being British and American. Deep down I am British and proud to be British, but United States is a fine country with wonderful people.
3..There were a lot more American speedway riders back in your day than there are now. What do you think is the reason for this?
The reason British speedway was full of USA riders in the late 70's and 80's was the fact that California was full of speedway riders that were racing 5 nights a week back then. That is where I went to learn in 1975. I had never raced on a racetrack and arrived in California after driving 3000 miles.I started in the 3rd Div. and worked my way up to the 2nd Div finishing 4th in the 2nd Div. championships in the first season. I stayed in Pasadena, and lived close to Dubb Ferrell who was a top first division racer, on equal par with the likes of the Bast Brothers, etc and used to visit Jerry Fairchild's shop who sponsored Dubb everyday to work on my bike and just listen and learn from them. I returned home after the '75 season and raced on the East Coast for the '76/'77 seasons before leaving for the UK. I had no idea what was ahead of me.
Late in 1977, Ivan made the decision to come to England to make a go of racing. He wrote letters to various team managers asking for the chance to ride, and was answered only by Vic White, who said he could give him some second half rides at Leicester. Unfortunately Ivan's first meeting did not go well, as the tracks were so different to those which he was used to, and he was moved on to Stoke, in the second division, where he picked up his first league points. Later, an injury to Edinburgh's Brian Collins meant an opening for Ivan to cover. He stayed for the entire season, and that's when his career really began to pick up.
4..You spent the majority of your racing career at Edinburgh. What are your best and worst memories of your time there?
My best memory at Edinburgh was the huge support I got from the Scottish fans. They are very loyal to their racers. And people like Mike Hunter and Ronnie Anderson who helped me out. Also mastering the tricky Powderhall track with its deep dirt. It was a very hard track to ride at first with its long straights and tight turns. Riders like Steve Lomas and Robert Hollingworth never took to it and left after one season, where I stayed and mastered the track. That was a great achievement.
My worst memory was having to quit speedway in '82 when I feel that I was just getting started and my best years were ahead of me, due to the fact that our paychecks were never there when I arrived at Powderhall. I was so hurt by this because I always gave 100% to that club. I quit speedway at the end of '82 with no interest in the sport because of that issue. Another thing I regret is they made me so bitter to the sport that I could have took my gear back to East Coast USA and raced at Champion Speedway in New York, but I just sold everything in the UK and moved back home.
Ivan also remembers the time where he was excluded from a race at Exeter in a first bend incident involving Bob Coles - a decision he strongly disputed. When he confronted the referee in his box, Ivan was fined and banned for the rest of the meeting. He descibes that day as "the final straw", despite riding in a further meeting a few days later.
5..Do you still keep in contact with any of your old team mates?
I do keep in touch with only one of my team mates whose name is Guy Robson, and is a loyal friend which are very hard to find these days. He sends me some speedway items from the UK from time to time.
6..You famously beat Erik Gundersen back in 1979 at Cradley. What do you remember about that race, and did he say anything to you after?
When Wolves rode at Cradley I was at reserve, and one of my heats was with the famous Erik Gunderson who I gated on and held him off to the finish. I remember just holding the throttle wide open and riding a very good line which gave me the victory. My problem was my bikes were so sub-standard that I feel if I had the right equipment I could have done so much more. After the race I have never had another racer ever come up to me like Erik did and shake my hand and say well done that was a fantastic ride. I felt like I had won the World Championship with Erik's response.
7..What was your favourite track to ride, and why?
I liked quite a few tracks. The small ones like Rye House, Crayford, Mildenhall because it took skill to ride them and not just a fast bike. and I loved the big oval ones like Peterborough, Oxford and Nottingham. And how can we leave out Glasgow Blantyre with it's deep dirt and roughness? I hated that track with a passion when I first rode it but once I knew how to ride it I scored very big there. Steve Lomas and Robert Hollingworth could never master that track. I learned how to ride the dirt when I went to Australia in 1979 with the American boys Bruce Penhall, Bobby Schwartz and the late Denny Pyeatt.
8..It's been said your best meetings were always on a slick track. Do you think slick tracks give the best racing?
That is not true that my best meetings were on a slick track. In one meeting at Glasgow I only dropped a single point, and that track was never slick. I don't really believe that dirt is the answer for good racing and the shape of the track is far more important.
9..You moved to Nottingham in 1980, where you picked up a shoulder injury which ended your season. Does it ever flare up nowadays, or do you still feel the effects of any other speedway injuries?
When I went to Nottingham in 1980 I was going like a freight train. My first ride there was with Mike Samson who I gated on and could have left him in the dust but like the good team man I was I waited for him to come along side me only to try and fence me. He was stamping his authority on me saying I am the number one rider here and don't you forget it. I did twelve meeting for them only to break a collarbone at Boston. I came out of turn 4 got into a high speed wobble and high sided going down the straight, just missing the starting gate. Lucky me. I had some glorious crashes and I have only a collarbone to show for it which I would say was very lucky. Today my body does not feel any injuries through speedway.
In one of his home meetings for Edinburgh, the Speedway Star quotes: "All credit...to the Blacka boy to [sic] risked life and limb in his five often breathtaking rides to get his 12 (paid 14). A remarkable performance by Ivan who rode in five of the first eight races."
Another derby meeting from the same source says: "...it was left to...Ivan Blacka, a veritable wall of death man, to make the fans feel they were getting their money's worth with 12 points from 5 races, each of which left us wondering whether he'd get to the finishing line in one piece." Ivan top-scored for the Monarchs that day.
And, perhaps the most dramatic of reports from the Speedway Star is the most telling of Ivan's style. "What surprises me about Blacka, to be honest, is that he has survived his settling in period with the Monarchs without killing himself."
Ivan says himself he took chances and used his throttle rather than his head. Personally, I prefer to think it further proof - if proof is needed - of his passion for the sport.
10..Looking at the racing of today, what would you say have been the biggest changes since your time in the sport?
When I look at the racing today I see so many riders that have everything. Not like when I started with a second-hand set of leathers, one bike, and a car with a bike rack on the back. I don't think half the riders today could even ride with the equipment that I rode with back then and get the results that I did. The cost must be enormous for them today.
11..If you were in charge at the BSPA now, what would you change?
I only have recently began to follow the sport and really don't know anything about the politics of the sport today, but helping British youngsters should be a top priority.
Also I would look abroad to see how they govern the sport and make the necessary changes. I would reduce the costs of the equipment the riders need to compete. By reducing costs more young riders could get involved in the sport again, and clubs could pay them less because equipment would cost less. That cost could filter down to the admission prices because people don't have that kind of money they are asking at the gate in this economy today. Back in the '80's you could start out in speedway with £1,500. I hate to think what it would cost today.
12..Who are your current favourite riders, and why?
My favorite rider today is Nicki Pedersen. I hated him when I first came back to the sport, but seeing him in a interview and how he conducted himself sold me to love him. I love his smile and I think he is such a nice person. He is a hard rider but that is what speedway is all about. You have to be tough or you will get walked all over. People say he is a dirty rider but I never see that in him. I can look him in the eyes and I can believe what he will say. That is my impression of Nicki.
I cannot leave out Gollob because that man is so entertaining it's frightening. Just when you think he is out of a race he comes from last to win it. Amazing..
13..Do you ever get the urge to jump back on a bike?
I think about riding a bike everyday. I need to get down to Steve Luxton's Mesa Park in Florida which is 3 hours drive from me and have a go again. Unfortunately my wife has taken ill and this is not possible at this time. Maybe in the future. What a dream that would be.
And finally to sum up my career: I came to the UK in 1978 and the second half riders were beating me; and with the determination that I had only a few months later I beat Dave Jessup at Coventry who was guesting for Ole Olsen. If I would have had good equipment who knows where the road would having taken me. What I did with what I had was one big achievement. I am proud of my myself for what I accomplished. I miss my speedway. Thanks for listening.
Many thanks to Ivan for taking the time to do what I think may be one of the most heartfelt interviews we've ever had. His love of the sport is clearly evident, even through written words on the page. And who knows? One day we might even get to see him fulfil his dream to return. A Pedersen-Balinski-Blacka-Gollob race, perhaps? Now that I'd pay to see!
1..Who or what inspired you to take up speedway?
My father was born in Yorkshire and used to attend Speedway before the war. He was a big Vic Duggan fan because of his leg trailing. I never did any kind of dirt bike riding or racing at an early age, then when I was around 20 my dad bought me a Jawa and took me to some waste ground near our home in Philly, and I started to have a go on some real bumpy fields. When I first started I did go through some front forks with all the crashes I had. Back then you could take the forks off and bang them against a telephone pole to straighten them up. So that was the beginning of a long journey into the wonderful world of Speedway.
2..You were born in England, but spent most of your life in America. What nationality did you ride as, and did you get to make the choice?
Being born in Southampton I was able to race National League when I started. I also raced for Wolves at that time. I really was not bothered about what nationality I raced under just as long as I could race. Put it this way if there was a meeting available for the USA I would have jumped at the chance to race and vice versa. I sort of double dipped with being British and American. Deep down I am British and proud to be British, but United States is a fine country with wonderful people.
3..There were a lot more American speedway riders back in your day than there are now. What do you think is the reason for this?
The reason British speedway was full of USA riders in the late 70's and 80's was the fact that California was full of speedway riders that were racing 5 nights a week back then. That is where I went to learn in 1975. I had never raced on a racetrack and arrived in California after driving 3000 miles.I started in the 3rd Div. and worked my way up to the 2nd Div finishing 4th in the 2nd Div. championships in the first season. I stayed in Pasadena, and lived close to Dubb Ferrell who was a top first division racer, on equal par with the likes of the Bast Brothers, etc and used to visit Jerry Fairchild's shop who sponsored Dubb everyday to work on my bike and just listen and learn from them. I returned home after the '75 season and raced on the East Coast for the '76/'77 seasons before leaving for the UK. I had no idea what was ahead of me.
Late in 1977, Ivan made the decision to come to England to make a go of racing. He wrote letters to various team managers asking for the chance to ride, and was answered only by Vic White, who said he could give him some second half rides at Leicester. Unfortunately Ivan's first meeting did not go well, as the tracks were so different to those which he was used to, and he was moved on to Stoke, in the second division, where he picked up his first league points. Later, an injury to Edinburgh's Brian Collins meant an opening for Ivan to cover. He stayed for the entire season, and that's when his career really began to pick up.
4..You spent the majority of your racing career at Edinburgh. What are your best and worst memories of your time there?
My best memory at Edinburgh was the huge support I got from the Scottish fans. They are very loyal to their racers. And people like Mike Hunter and Ronnie Anderson who helped me out. Also mastering the tricky Powderhall track with its deep dirt. It was a very hard track to ride at first with its long straights and tight turns. Riders like Steve Lomas and Robert Hollingworth never took to it and left after one season, where I stayed and mastered the track. That was a great achievement.
My worst memory was having to quit speedway in '82 when I feel that I was just getting started and my best years were ahead of me, due to the fact that our paychecks were never there when I arrived at Powderhall. I was so hurt by this because I always gave 100% to that club. I quit speedway at the end of '82 with no interest in the sport because of that issue. Another thing I regret is they made me so bitter to the sport that I could have took my gear back to East Coast USA and raced at Champion Speedway in New York, but I just sold everything in the UK and moved back home.
Ivan also remembers the time where he was excluded from a race at Exeter in a first bend incident involving Bob Coles - a decision he strongly disputed. When he confronted the referee in his box, Ivan was fined and banned for the rest of the meeting. He descibes that day as "the final straw", despite riding in a further meeting a few days later.
5..Do you still keep in contact with any of your old team mates?
I do keep in touch with only one of my team mates whose name is Guy Robson, and is a loyal friend which are very hard to find these days. He sends me some speedway items from the UK from time to time.
6..You famously beat Erik Gundersen back in 1979 at Cradley. What do you remember about that race, and did he say anything to you after?
When Wolves rode at Cradley I was at reserve, and one of my heats was with the famous Erik Gunderson who I gated on and held him off to the finish. I remember just holding the throttle wide open and riding a very good line which gave me the victory. My problem was my bikes were so sub-standard that I feel if I had the right equipment I could have done so much more. After the race I have never had another racer ever come up to me like Erik did and shake my hand and say well done that was a fantastic ride. I felt like I had won the World Championship with Erik's response.
7..What was your favourite track to ride, and why?
I liked quite a few tracks. The small ones like Rye House, Crayford, Mildenhall because it took skill to ride them and not just a fast bike. and I loved the big oval ones like Peterborough, Oxford and Nottingham. And how can we leave out Glasgow Blantyre with it's deep dirt and roughness? I hated that track with a passion when I first rode it but once I knew how to ride it I scored very big there. Steve Lomas and Robert Hollingworth could never master that track. I learned how to ride the dirt when I went to Australia in 1979 with the American boys Bruce Penhall, Bobby Schwartz and the late Denny Pyeatt.
8..It's been said your best meetings were always on a slick track. Do you think slick tracks give the best racing?
That is not true that my best meetings were on a slick track. In one meeting at Glasgow I only dropped a single point, and that track was never slick. I don't really believe that dirt is the answer for good racing and the shape of the track is far more important.
9..You moved to Nottingham in 1980, where you picked up a shoulder injury which ended your season. Does it ever flare up nowadays, or do you still feel the effects of any other speedway injuries?
When I went to Nottingham in 1980 I was going like a freight train. My first ride there was with Mike Samson who I gated on and could have left him in the dust but like the good team man I was I waited for him to come along side me only to try and fence me. He was stamping his authority on me saying I am the number one rider here and don't you forget it. I did twelve meeting for them only to break a collarbone at Boston. I came out of turn 4 got into a high speed wobble and high sided going down the straight, just missing the starting gate. Lucky me. I had some glorious crashes and I have only a collarbone to show for it which I would say was very lucky. Today my body does not feel any injuries through speedway.
In one of his home meetings for Edinburgh, the Speedway Star quotes: "All credit...to the Blacka boy to [sic] risked life and limb in his five often breathtaking rides to get his 12 (paid 14). A remarkable performance by Ivan who rode in five of the first eight races."
Another derby meeting from the same source says: "...it was left to...Ivan Blacka, a veritable wall of death man, to make the fans feel they were getting their money's worth with 12 points from 5 races, each of which left us wondering whether he'd get to the finishing line in one piece." Ivan top-scored for the Monarchs that day.
And, perhaps the most dramatic of reports from the Speedway Star is the most telling of Ivan's style. "What surprises me about Blacka, to be honest, is that he has survived his settling in period with the Monarchs without killing himself."
Ivan says himself he took chances and used his throttle rather than his head. Personally, I prefer to think it further proof - if proof is needed - of his passion for the sport.
10..Looking at the racing of today, what would you say have been the biggest changes since your time in the sport?
When I look at the racing today I see so many riders that have everything. Not like when I started with a second-hand set of leathers, one bike, and a car with a bike rack on the back. I don't think half the riders today could even ride with the equipment that I rode with back then and get the results that I did. The cost must be enormous for them today.
11..If you were in charge at the BSPA now, what would you change?
I only have recently began to follow the sport and really don't know anything about the politics of the sport today, but helping British youngsters should be a top priority.
Also I would look abroad to see how they govern the sport and make the necessary changes. I would reduce the costs of the equipment the riders need to compete. By reducing costs more young riders could get involved in the sport again, and clubs could pay them less because equipment would cost less. That cost could filter down to the admission prices because people don't have that kind of money they are asking at the gate in this economy today. Back in the '80's you could start out in speedway with £1,500. I hate to think what it would cost today.
12..Who are your current favourite riders, and why?
My favorite rider today is Nicki Pedersen. I hated him when I first came back to the sport, but seeing him in a interview and how he conducted himself sold me to love him. I love his smile and I think he is such a nice person. He is a hard rider but that is what speedway is all about. You have to be tough or you will get walked all over. People say he is a dirty rider but I never see that in him. I can look him in the eyes and I can believe what he will say. That is my impression of Nicki.
I cannot leave out Gollob because that man is so entertaining it's frightening. Just when you think he is out of a race he comes from last to win it. Amazing..
13..Do you ever get the urge to jump back on a bike?
I think about riding a bike everyday. I need to get down to Steve Luxton's Mesa Park in Florida which is 3 hours drive from me and have a go again. Unfortunately my wife has taken ill and this is not possible at this time. Maybe in the future. What a dream that would be.
And finally to sum up my career: I came to the UK in 1978 and the second half riders were beating me; and with the determination that I had only a few months later I beat Dave Jessup at Coventry who was guesting for Ole Olsen. If I would have had good equipment who knows where the road would having taken me. What I did with what I had was one big achievement. I am proud of my myself for what I accomplished. I miss my speedway. Thanks for listening.
Many thanks to Ivan for taking the time to do what I think may be one of the most heartfelt interviews we've ever had. His love of the sport is clearly evident, even through written words on the page. And who knows? One day we might even get to see him fulfil his dream to return. A Pedersen-Balinski-Blacka-Gollob race, perhaps? Now that I'd pay to see!